Chapter XXIV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a member of the Nahuatl people who established an empire in Mexico that was overthrown by Cortes in 1519

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

black-and-red or black-and-yellow orioles of the American tropics

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

past form of “convene” — meet formally

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico (1485-1547)

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

a body serving in an administrative capacity

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

beaten or overcome; not victorious

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

command with authority

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

accept an excuse for

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

given to haughty disregard of others

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

evergreen tree with large leathery leaves and large pink to orange flowers; considered a link plant between families Bombacaceae and Sterculiaceae

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He proposed to defeat this by being first in the field and making a prisoner of Montezuma himself.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

as the end result of a succession or process

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

up to a particular time

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading In this engagement, though the Indians were ultimately defeated, the Spaniards, including Juan Escalante, the commandant, had been killed.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

during the time that

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.

which person or people

From this reading It was nothing less than an attack on the Spanish garrison at Vera Cruz, by an Aztec cacique named Quapoca, who claimed to have acted by direct orders from the king.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading MONTEZUMA IS MADE PRISONER That night Cortes convened a council of his captains, whom he told of the plot to kill him.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading As an excuse for so high-handed a proceeding, he would bring up an affair, of which he had learned while at Cholula, but had deemed best to keep to himself until now.